Cancer - An Overview
As we all get older, we hear about more people we know getting cancer. It can be very scary, and most of us have lost people we know and love to cancer. Cancer gets more common as we get older - around 80% of cancer diagnoses are in people aged over 50.
The commonest types of cancer are Breast, Prostate, Lung, Bowel and Bladder.
A person’s risk of developing cancer depends on many different things, including age, genetics, and exposure to risk factors. But nearly 40% of cancers are caused by lifestyle factors and could be prevented.
The earlier cancer is detected, the more likely it is to be treatable. Attending screening improves the chances of catching cancer at an early treatable stage.
Read the information below or download and print our factsheet.
How likely am I to get cancer?
1 in 2 people born around 1960 or after will develop cancer at some point in their life. The chances of being diagnosed with cancer increases with age.
Am I more likely to get cancer because of my thalidomide damage?
We have looked at the number of beneficiaries who have reported a diagnosis of cancer to us and analysed this against the national average. There is currently no evidence to suggest that you are at higher risk of cancer because of your thalidomide damage.
How can I spot the signs of cancer early?
It is good to be aware of, and alert to, the most common symptoms associated with cancer. Cancer Research UK have produced some helpful information summarising the key things to look out for:
General symptoms:
- Very heavy night sweats
- Fatigue
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- Unexplained pain or ache
- Unexplained weight loss
- An unusual lump or swelling anywhere on your body
- A new mole or changes to a mole
- Skin changes or a sore that won't heal
Symptoms affecting specific areas of the body:
| Area | Symptoms |
| Mouth | Difficulty swallowing Mouth or tongue ulcer that won't heal |
| Voice | Croaky voice or hoarseness |
| Breathing | Breathlessness Persistent cough |
| Breast or chest | Unusual breast or chest changes Nipple changes |
| Tummy | Persistent bloating Persistent heartburn or indigestion Appetite loss |
| Bowel/bladder or vagina | Problems peeing Changes in bowel habits Blood in poo or pee Unexpected vaginal bleeding |
| Skin | Sore that does not heal Skin changes New mole or changes to a mole |
Visit the Cancer Research UK website for more information on all of these symptoms
However, this is not a complete list so if you experience any unexplained symptoms or unusual changes to your body, it is best to talk to your GP about them. If you are worried about any symptoms and are struggling to make an appointment with your GP, please speak to one of the Medical Advisers at the Trust.
What are screening tests?
Screening tests are designed to catch cancer at an early stage when it is more treatable - even when there are no symptoms that you have noticed - so it is important that you respond to invitations to attend routine screenings.
What screening is available?
Cervical screening, often known as ‘smear tests’, are available for women up to the age of 65. These are usually done every five years and if you have a clear test after the age of 60 then you won’t normally be called for another one.
Breast screening Mammograms are available for women every three years between the ages of 50 and 70, but you can continue to ask for regular mammograms up to the age of 70. These use x-rays to check for any abnormal looking tissue in the breasts which are an indication of cancer.
Bowel screening is available for both men and women every two years between the ages of 60 and 74 in England and Northern Ireland, 50-74 in Scotland and 55-74 in Wales. You will be asked to provide a small sample of poo and send this to the lab to check for blood.
What about Prostate screening for men?
Although a common form of cancer for men, prostate screening is not currently available as a national programme. This is because the blood test called the PSA test is not currently considered accurate enough to use for screening purposes.
If you have any symptoms relating to poor flow of urine or need to get up to pee more than twice in the night, your prostate might need checking.
A full check usually involves a doctor examining your prostate (through the back passage) to check for lumps and a blood test to check your PSA hormone level. It is important to have the examination as you can still have prostate cancer even with a normal PSA test.
Are there any other checks I should be doing myself?
It is important for all women to check their breasts regularly between mammograms and report any new lumps to their GP urgently.
We appreciate that it can be difficult for beneficiaries with upper limb damage to check your own breasts, so we have produced an additional Breast Check Factsheet.
It is also important to be aware of changes to your bowel movements and to check for blood in your poo. Check the toilet before flushing regularly, even if you use a wash/dry toilet.
If you have any blood showing in your poo, you are opening your bowels more frequently or the stools are looser for three weeks, contact your GP urgently even if you have had a recent bowel screening test and the result was normal.
What steps can I take to reduce my risk of cancer?
There are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of you developing cancer.
Stop smoking
15 % of cancers are caused by smoking so stopping smoking is the single most effective way of reducing your risk of cancer.
We know it can be really difficult to stop smoking, especially when you have been smoking for many years. If you would like advice and support to help you stop smoking, you can:
Call the free National Smokefree Helpline on: England: 0300 123 1044 9am- 8pm Mon-Friday Wales: 0800 085 2219. Scotland: 0800 84 84 84 Northern Ireland: check the website for your local adviser stopsmokingni.info/ways-quit/ local-help-and-support
Speak to the smoking cessation adviser at your GP surgery.
Read the guidance on the how to stop smoking in the panel on the right – information from the National Stoptober campaign, the NHS as well as beneficiary David Tickell’s story on how he stopped smoking.
Change key lifestyle factors - eating and drinking habits, physical activity levels
About 20% of cancers are caused by being very overweight, alcohol consumption, diets low in fruits/ vegetables and fibre and low physical activity. Reducing your alcohol intake, losing some weight, and moving more will all help reduce your risk of cancer.
There is lots of information on the Trust website which can help you eat more healthily and lose weight, reduce alcohol consumption and get more active.
Reduce the risk of developing skin cancer by reducing your exposure to sun
How can I stay safe in the sun?
The best thing you can do is to stay mostly in the shade, particularly in the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest. However, there are other things you can do to reduce your exposure to the sun:
- Always wear a broad-brimmed hat where possible. Try to choose one that fits snugly to your head and won’t blow off easily in a breeze.
- Wear factor 30 to factor 50 sunscreen if out in the sunshine and remember to re-apply frequently for maximum benefit. Long handled lotion applicators can help to get to the hard-to-reach areas. Even low-level sunlight can burn.
- If you can’t put sunscreen on yourself and don’t have someone to help, consider wearing a light long-sleeved shirt and trousers/skirt that cover your legs fully.
When should I worry about cancer?
It’s really hard to know which symptoms can be ignored for a while and which are important to act on straight away. It’s always best to listen to your body - you know it best.
If something doesn’t feel right, you spot any unexpected changes in your body or you have symptoms that last for more than two or three weeks then we recommend getting it checked out. If you are uncertain and would like to discuss your concerns before approaching your own GP, please ask to speak to one of our Medical Advisers.
Where can I find out more?
If you have other questions you can arrange to speak to one of the Trust’s Medical Advisers. Call us on 01480 474074 or email [email protected]
